The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1887-12-03

ttlic, 10 ~ go OlSlllo ulu lSei sulelulullf.E
Won'tyon see, mOtherp"
But at this moment Sally. the little
servant girl from Grandma Rashleigi,'s,
came flying into tho room, without any
more warning than rshe had been shot
from u gun. "l'he old5mlsslis says you
arc to come over at once, both yon
ladies!' she cried, standing before Mrs.
and repeating 'isi lesson
like II parrot. "There's somethingBof
Importance, and you're needed at
once.n
sect your bonnet, Cornelia," said
her mother. SIN just put OH this sun,
hat. What is it, sally, do you know?n.
81 know it's something dreadful.
Missus is almost wild, and there's lots
Of folks there. Something about Mr..
Spear. F"
The two ladies' said no more They
hurried away together, and entering
grandma's parlor, found there assem-
bled more OF the members Of the Spear
family, and friend or two besides,
Oryille Ind indeed disappeared. lie
had never been homo since his visit Ito
Conelia; and now the alarmed rela-
tives were anxious to get all the infor-
nation they could regarding the inter-
view between Orville and Cornelia
81 had reason to be angry. Mrs.
Spear, said Cornella, proudly good
reason, and I took off my ring, and
gave 1t back, and went out of the room.
That IS all L know. | don't know
when he went or where. II thought
he wouldn't mind SO much. believed
he had stopped caring about me. -
Gle ought to now, ut all events"
said grandma.
"My boy is dead, Pm sure. l shall
have the pond dragged" said Mrs.
Spear, amidst her tears" "IIe left all
his money at home. ITe wouldn't have
gone travelling without u change Of
clothes Oh, you wicked girll''
81 could kill you, You hateful thingl"
cried the youngest Miss Spear.
Cornella had kept up pravely until
now; but when her two friends turned
upon her thus, she gave a little scream,
and fell over on the sofa. She was in {,
dead swoon, and the water they sprink-
led OH her face did not bring her TO-
Grandma grew frightened "1 hope
it isn't an attack of heart disease, (" she
said. "Poor child! she looks as If she
were dead"
ooh, don't say that!'' cried The.
mother.
They gathered around Cornelia, and
did all they could for her, and soon she
recovered, and sat up; but all her pride
was gone. "Oh, dearl-oh, .dear!' she
sobbed, 81 wish had died l wish I
had never como to Oh, Orville, Or
villel what has become of you?''
''Oh, oh'' moaned the mother.
''Oh, OIL" moaned the sisters.
And Cornelia's head fell back again.
Emma, get the lavender out Of
tho china-closet, " said grandma to her
daughter. Quick! It's, on the corner
shelf!'
Mrs. Rashlcigh rushed 20 the closet.
cit won't opcnln she cried, wildly.
cts patent lock-" said grandma;
"locks rs it shuts, Hero's tho key"
And Mrs. Rashlc!gh flew back 10 the
door, opened it, and uttered q shrek.
There Oh the floor, huddled upunder
the shelf, lay poor Orville Spear. lie
was white and limp.
Cornelia sat and stared at him in the
most awful way. She thought him
dead, but the more experienced matron
saw that he was yet living.
Sally was sent for the doctor, and
there, in Mrs. Rashleigh's drawing
room, he found Cornclia and Oryille
lying quite unconscious, like Romeo
and Juliet in the scene 1T the tomb,
and The rest of the party in state Of
bewilderment and terror past descrip-
ton. At last, however, both were con-
scious, and, seated in arm-chairs, re
garded each other, while the observers
kept silence, and Mr.. Orville Spear
uttered the first words. "Of all con,
founded fools"
"Who, dear?n asked his mother.
"Me," said Orville, regardless of
grammer. "Who shut me in?,'
"What were you in the closet for2n
asked grandma, with guilty con.
science.
ITO pick something ZIP that rolled
there,' said Oryille.
"The ring2" asked Cornelia, franti-
cally.
eyes, the ring" said Mr.. Spear
'More fool / Someone banged the
door to. / shouted, and howled, and
kicked, and no one heard me- y
"Oh, OH, oh, ohl'' shrieked Cornelia
81 believe you hid there just to kill me,
for no other purpose than out Of re-
venge.''
Tou banged tho door on me,'' said
Mr. Spear. "a jealous woman will do
anything
II banged the door, Oryillel'' said
old Mrs. Rashleigb. ''Il You'd left
everything flying, l just pushed it as l
passed, and you ought to bless your
stars that you are alive, for people don't
go into thes drawing-room sometimes
for q fortnight in this small family.